Tried wetting my bricks before laying in 95 degree heat last week

I was on a job in Phoenix and the mortar kept drying too fast. I tried dunking each brick in a bucket of water for 10 seconds before laying it. It made the mortar stay workable for almost 15 minutes longer. But I also noticed the bricks slid around more and I had to wait an extra 20 minutes before they held firm. Learned that wetting works but you gotta adjust your speed and use stiffer mortar. Anyone else mess with this technique in hot weather?

2 comments

2 Comments

ray21020h ago

Holding up your whole workflow for an extra 20 minutes sounds like a headache unless you are getting paid by the hour. I have been on hot jobs where the mortar dries like concrete within 60 seconds and never bothered with dunking bricks. I just spray a light mist on the bed and keep the mortar a bit looser. Seems like wetting the whole brick is overkill for most situations unless you are working with those super thirsty salvaged bricks that drink water like a sponge. Maybe it matters more for load bearing walls but for a garden path or a veneer, I would not mess with it.

wrenh7919h ago

Read somewhere that old school bricklayers swore by it. Something to it maybe.